Luna went to get some rest. She needed to sleep and wake up just to
be sure that she was not just imagining things. She knew however that
she would have sweet dreams that night and possibly for the rest of her
life. Who knew that life could be so bittersweet? She had suffered so
much heartache those past years and with the culmination of her
uncle's murder by an aunt whom she never knew existed and had
raised her, that she never thought that her deepest desire to find love
with luca would ever come true.
The following morning, she awoke to a loud sad howling. That was
really disturbing and unusual. She put on her robe and ran toward the
howling only to come to Luca's fatherâs room. The door was ajar and
she saw lucaâs father lying lifeless on his bed. Luca was torn at the foot
of the bed and Luca's father's partner was in wolf form howling away.
âOh my god! What is going on?â I asked as I hurried to comfort a grief
stricken luca. He seemed weak and defeated. Same as I was only but a
few hours ago when the news of my uncle's death was broken to me.
"heâs dead Luna. My father is dead.â He cried in my arms. Right then his
grand father came in and asked Luca and to compose himself. âMy son
was infected by a potion much stronger than the one used on you and
Luna. We think that it was snuck into his drink the night of the ball. As
he is strong, it was undetected until he started showing symptoms. By
then it was already too late to do anything. Your father was happy that
you found a mate. He died knowing that you will have a partner to help
you in your new role as King. I am too old to carry this mantle, not as
strong as I used to be. Take your time to mourn and assume your role.
The throne will not remain empty.â
He came over to hug his family. Luna whispered to Luca, âI will leave
you with your family and I'll find you when you need me.â She kissed
him on the forehead gave her condolences to the old king and Luca's
father's lover and left them to mourn together as was their tradition.
The castle was filled with howling. Never before had Luna experienced
such. Her uncle had not even been cremated and Luca, her mate had
just lost his father. Was she to blame for this? It was her aunt who had
used the potion. She must have used Nina to get to Luca's father.
She wondered what would become of his lover now that Luca's father
was dead. Though she had been with him for so long they were not
married. As far as she knew, His mate had been Luca's mother and he
had refused to marry again. The bond that one has with a mate is
unlike any other. Once one finds their mate no other love or thing
resembling love can compare. Her not finding a mate could possibly be
why she felt that much pain. Though her pain is nothing compared to
what she would feel if he had been her mate.
Luna went to have breakfast and the kitchen staff bowed down at her.
This was new. They had never done this before. They were only to do
this in the presence of the King or luca and she was neither. She asked
them to stop but the kitchen head went on to say, âThe Lycan king is
dead. You are the Alphaâs mate; you are to be queen. It is what we
know.â Luna was surprised that they all knew that luca had chosen her.
She now knew that she had not been dreaming and that she had a
responsibility to him now more than ever. All eyes would be on him.
She wondered what it would mean for him and his studies. Surely, he
would have to put all of it behind him as governing a pack was difficult
let alone a species.
She wondered now how all this change would affect her relationship
with Luca. Surely, he wouldn't have time for her with his father gone. He
would probably want to be with his family. She felt selfish for wanting
to be with him now but ever since he told her that he loved her and
that she was his mate, she had found it difficult stop thinking about him
and right now she felt that she just needed to be with him. She ate her
breakfast and went back upstairs. She showered and changed into
some outdoor clothes and went knocking on Luca's door but got no
answer. She felt stupid for doing that. She was ashamed that he had
not been there to answer her call so she ran off into the woods.
The alphaâs death along with that of her uncle's had enraged her and
luca had helped her to keep her anger under control but now she felt a
fire raging inside her and she needed luca. She needed him to help her
control it otherwise she would explode. âWhere is he?â she thought to
herself. âLuca, where are you. I need You.â She lay down under a tree
near the place where her uncle was killed and waited. She didn't know
what for but out of the woods, Luca emerged.
âYou called, are you Ok?" he asked running to embrace her. âI'm fine. I
was just having a bit of difficulty controlling my rage. Wait, you heard
me?" she asked. He looked back at her in amazement. âYou didnât know
that I could hear you when you direct your thoughts toward me?â she
smiled nervously feeling awkward. âI did not; I'm so sorry that I took
you from your family in this time. I honestly had no idea that this was
possible. I am still discovering what we can and cannot do. I'm so sorry
luca. I don't want to be a burden.â
âYou know what let's just sit and remember our family as they were in
life. Tomorrow we lay them both to rest. Ok. And please, don't ever
think that you're a burden to anyone especially me. It is my job to care
for you. Nothing that is important to you is too small or insignificant for
me, Ok?â He responded and planted a kiss on her lip and sat beside her
beneath the tree remembering her uncle and his father. When it got
late, they returned to the palace together.